Atheism and hedonism

From Conservapedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by DavidB4-bot (Talk | contribs) at 13:33, September 26, 2018. It may differ significantly from current revision.

Jump to: navigation, search
The pornographer Larry Flynt is an atheist.[1][2] See: Atheism and pornography (photo obtained from Wikimedia Commons, see: license agreement)

The Barna Group found that atheists and agnostics in America were more likely, than theists in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: illegal drug use; excessive drinking; sexual relationships outside of marriage; abortion; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; obscene language; gambling; pornography and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in homosexuality/bisexuality.[3]

Given the many diseases associated with homosexuality, the biblical prohibition against homosexuality is quite arguably one of the many examples where the Bible exhibited knowledge that was ahead of its time.

The infamous pornographers Hugh Hefner and Larry Flynt are both atheists.[4][5][6] See also: Atheism and pornography

Many Christians believe that a hedonist lifestyle is a causal factor of atheism (see: Causes of atheism).[7]

For more information, please see:

Western atheists have not done a significant amount of outreach to poor countries

See also: Atheism and charitableness

Doing overseas evangelism/outreaches in poor countries often requires significant hardships/persecution and western atheists by in large have been unwilling to endure such hardships in order to spread atheistic ideology - especially when compared to Christianity (see: Western atheists have not done a significant amount of outreach to poor countries).

Atheism and the paradox of hedonism

A child in Thailand where the nontheistic form of Buddhism called the Theravada school of Buddhism is prevalent. In 2010, the Pew Research Forum indicated that 93.2% of the people of Thailand were Buddhists.[8] Per capita atheists and agnostics in America give significantly less to charity than theists even when church giving is not counted for theists (See: Atheism and uncharitableness).

See also: Atheism and happiness

The paradox of hedonism is that focusing on pleasure seeking often has counterproductive results. For example, gluttony and obesity is a causal factor for many illnesses (See also: Atheism and obesity).

According to the Journal of Public Economics, "The “Hedonistic Paradox” states that homo economicus, or someone who seeks happiness for him- or herself, will not find it, but the person who helps others will.[9] Per capita atheists and agnostics in America give significantly less to charity than theists even when church giving is not counted for theists (See: Atheism and uncharitableness).

Unfortunately for the atheist hedonist, focusing on pleasure-seeking does not deliver the optimal pleasure and happiness in the long run or even in the short run and instead just delivers emptiness.[10]

Atheism, evangelicalism and sexual satisfaction

See also: Atheism and sexuality and Atheism and women

Research indicates that religious women (especially evangelical/low church Protestant women) are more sexually satisfied than irreligious women.[11]

Atheism, evangelical Protestantism, work ethic and poverty

See also: Atheism and sloth and Protestant work ethic

Another example is that widespread sloth in the former Soviet Union helped cause much poverty (see: Atheism and communism).[12][13] A study performed in the former Soviet Union found that over 50% of the work force admitted to drinking alcohol while on the job (See also: Atheism and alcoholism).[14]

On the other hand, Harvard University historian Niall Ferguson declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the Protestant societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."[15] In China, the growth in religion has accompanied China’s fast economic growth over the last twenty years.[16] Christianity is seeing rapid growth in China and the historian Niall Ferguson attributes this recent economic growth to the Protestant work ethic being more incorporated into Chinese society.[17]

Eurozone crisis

See: Sloth and secular Europe's economic crisis

Articles related to atheism and sexual immorality


Articles related to atheism and gluttony/sloth:


Article related to atheism and uncharitableness:

Inappropriate sexual activity at atheist events

The prominent atheists Richard Carrier and PZ Myers have written about inappropriate sexual activity which occurs at atheist events (see: Atheist conferences and inappropriate sexual activity).[18][19]

Western World atheists unwilling to endure hardship to globally spread atheism

African Christians clapping at an open-air meeting. In recent years, Christianity has seen a rapid growth in Africa.[20] In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western World Christians as there were Western World Christians.[21] Western World atheists have not engaged in a significant amount of global outreach.

See also: Atheism and apathy and Global atheism and Global Christianity and Christian evangelism

The former Soviet Union had a worldwide expansionist policy as far as spreading atheistic communism.[22] The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to a spike in religious affiliation, both in Russia and in Eastern Europe.[23]

Doing overseas evangelism/outreaches, often requires significant hardships/persecution. Western World atheists have been unwilling to endure such hardships in order to spread atheistic ideology. On the other hand, historically, Christians have made great evangelism efforts to reach every people group across the earth. In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western World Christians as there were Western World Christians.[24]

Michel Onfray

Michel Onfray (born January 1, 1959) is a French philosopher and writer who advocates hedonism, atheism and anarchism. He has authored over 50 philosophy books.

According to the website The Best Schools:

“ His 2006 Traité d’athéologie (translated as Atheist Manifesto) became a sensation and elevated him onto the national stage in France. The Traité d’athéologie has been closely associated with the books of the “Four Horsemen” of the New Atheism in France, Italy, Australia, and elsewhere. He traces his philosophical lineage to the Cynic, Diogenes of Sinope.[25] ”

Books

See also: Books on the causes of atheism

  • Immorality and pride, the great causes of atheism a sermon preach'd at the cathedral-church of St. Paul, January the 8th 1697/8 : the first of the lecture for that year, founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq. / by John Harris, Publisher: BiblioBazaar, 2011 ISBN 1240832273, 9781240832279 [1]

See also

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ Flynt writes, "I have left my religious conversion behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism": see the epilogue of Flynt and Ross
  2. ↑ "I am not saying he don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." Larry King Live, January 10, 1996
  3. ↑ http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard
  4. ↑ 10 celebs you didn't know were atheists, Salon 2-23-2010
  5. ↑ Flynt writes, "I have left my religious conversion behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism": see the epilogue of Flynt and Ross
  6. ↑ "I am not saying he don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." Larry King Live, January 10, 1996
  7. ↑ Why do atheists hate God?
  8. ↑ Pew Research Center - Global Religious Landscape 2010 - religious composition by country.
  9. ↑ [The Hedonistic Paradox: Is Homo Economicus Happier?], Journal of Public Economics
  10. ↑ Clear Voices 2014 - Alister McGrath - C. S. Lewis’s Vision of the Christianity
  11. ↑ The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 115
  12. ↑ Poverty, prostitutes and the long, slow death of the Soviet Union: Haunting pictures show desperate struggle to survive in last days of USSR, The Daily Mail
  13. ↑ Soviet Openness Brings Poverty Out of the Shadows, New York Times
  14. ↑ Communism and computer ethics
  15. ↑ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012
  16. ↑ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012
  17. ↑ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012
  18. ↑ Our Mythical Campaign against Sex, Richard Carrier,
  19. ↑ The eros of the podium - see comment section below the blog post, PZ Myers, comment section
  20. ↑ The African apostles: How Christianity exploded in 20th-century Africa
  21. ↑ Is Christianity taking over the planet?
  22. ↑ America Coming to Terms: The Vietnam Legacy By Nguyen Anh Tuan, page 82
  23. ↑ [Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020] by Michael W. Chapman, CNS News, July 24, 2013 - 2:18 PM
  24. ↑ Is Christianity taking over the planet?
  25. ↑ Top atheists in the world today
Retrieved from "https://conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Atheism_and_hedonism&oldid=1451390"